Fiber optic splitter module

Abstract

A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of fiber optic splitter modules mounted within the chassis. Each splitter module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the splitter module through a front opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the splitter module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. The adapters mounted within the interior of the chassis are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a fiber optic splitter module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A telecommunications module, comprising:
 a housing including a main housing portion defining a first transverse wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, cooperatively defining an interior; 
 the main housing portion including at least one fiber optic connector extending from the rear wall toward an outside of the module; 
 the main housing portion including at least one cable exit extending from the front wall of the main housing portion toward the outside of the module; 
 the module including an optical component located within the interior of the module adjacent the bottom wall of the main housing portion; 
 the module including a cable management structure in the form of a spool located within the interior of the module for guiding cables extending between the optical component and the at least one cable exit; and 
 the housing of the module including a cover portion for mounting to the main housing portion for closing off the interior of the main housing portion, wherein a majority of the cover portion defines a plane parallel to the first transverse wall, and wherein the spool located within the interior of the module defines a spool axis that is perpendicular to both the plane defined by the majority of the cover portion and the first transverse wall of the main housing portion, 
 wherein the housing includes a flexible cantilever arm extending from the front wall of the main housing portion, the flexible cantilever arm defining a free end that extends away from the main housing portion to an exterior of the telecommunication module for interfacing with and providing a snap fit connection with another piece of telecommunications equipment that is separate from the telecommunications module for removably mounting the telecommunications module to the piece of telecommunications equipment, wherein the flexible cantilever arm is configured to be deflected to permit withdrawal of the telecommunications module from the piece of telecommunications equipment to which the telecommunications module is mounted, and 
 wherein the flexible cantilever arm defines a finger grip tab that is configured to be positioned at an exterior of the piece of telecommunications equipment when the telecommunications module has been mounted to the piece of telecommunications equipment so as to provide finger access from an exterior of the piece of telecommunications equipment to permit withdrawal of the telecommunications module from the piece of telecommunications equipment. 
 
     
     
       2. A telecommunications module according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical component includes a fiber optic splitter that splits a single incoming signal into a plurality of same outgoing signals. 
     
     
       3. A telecommunications module according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear wall of the main housing portion includes a curved portion and wherein the cable management structure in the form of a spool is positioned adjacent the curved portion. 
     
     
       4. A telecommunications module according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear wall includes an inset portion and wherein the connector is located at the inset portion of the rear wall. 
     
     
       5. A telecommunications module according to  claim 1 , wherein the main housing portion includes crimp holders located adjacent the at least one cable exit for holding crimped ends of cables going from the optical component toward the at least one cable exit. 
     
     
       6. A telecommunications module according to  claim 5 , wherein the crimp holders are configured to slidably receive crimped ends of cables, the crimp holders being stacked in a direction parallel to the cover portion and the first transverse wall of the main housing portion. 
     
     
       7. A telecommunications module according to  claim 6 , wherein the crimp holders define slots for receiving crimped ends of cables. 
     
     
       8. A telecommunications module according to  claim 1 , wherein the cantilever arm generally extends in a direction generally parallel to a direction that is from the front wall to the rear wall of the main housing portion.